Check out Day

[wendydarling78]

Looking at flights back to NE Ohio, and most seem to leave in the afternoon or evening, some as late as 10:30.

I'd like to make the most of our last day here, and schedule a really late flight home. But then what are my options?

Book the room for an extra day so we have use of the room/kitchen/showers?

Spend the day touring off-site.

Stay at Aulani, but have nowhere to change if we swim?

What have you done? What worked/didn't work?

 

[DisneyWorldbuff]

We had a late(red eye) flight home. Aulani has a lounge set up specifically for this situation. You can ask for a key card for the lounge at the front desk on your check out day. There are two televisions, couches, magazines, and a large locker rocker with showers. We checked out of the room, stored our luggage with bell services, and swam and enjoyed our day. It was actually pretty easy. The red eye stinks though!

 

[wendydarling78]

I have seen people post about locker rooms and showers and such, but several people found it crowded and hard to get a locker, long lines for showers, etc. Was this what you found as well? Or no problems?

 

[alohamom]

We just kept our belongings with bell services, our passports, wallet, etc at the front desk in a lock box and had a change bag with dry clothes. We have never used the lockers. Keep in mind that even with a 10:30 pm flight you still need to return your car, check your bags and get through security. We usually stop for something to eat close to the airport before we do all that because there isnt much open at the airport after 8pm. With traffic in mind, leaving Aulani at 7pm for a 10:30 flight would be my plan. Maybe not every ones, but it would be mine.

 

[kdonnel]

The lounge is a zoo on Saturdays from noon-5pm. There was a line 5 people deep for the showers.

 

[helenk]

We left on a Sunday, and we used the lounge. It seemed that on our day there were more people arriving at the resort using the lounge rather than people leaving the resort. There generally not a huge demand for the showers, but there was one point where there was a line for the showers but it seemed to move quickly. My only complaint was that the people using the area by the sinks to dry their hair etc were in the way of washing your hands at the sinks. They moved but I felt like I was "bothering" them.

 

[vikequeen]

I have seen people post about locker rooms and showers and such, but several people found it crowded and hard to get a locker, long lines for showers, etc. Was this what you found as well? Or no problems?

We did this last year over spring break (March 2016). It was busy and there were several people in the locker room, but I was able to get a locker and shower without waiting. It was a great option to get an extra day out of our trip and we will likely do it again on our trip in 2018.

 

[vikequeen]

We did this last year over spring break (March 2016). It was busy and there were several people in the locker room, but I was able to get a locker and shower without waiting. It was a great option to get an extra day out of our trip and we will likely do it again on our trip in 2018.

I think this was on a wed or thursday though . . .

 

[DisneyWorldbuff]

I have seen people post about locker rooms and showers and such, but several people found it crowded and hard to get a locker, long lines for showers, etc. Was this what you found as well? Or no problems?

We were there over Thanksgiving week. It was crowded at the resort, but we did not have any problems at all in the lounge on departure day. Just plan to bring a bag for your wets things(they did have a swimsuit spinner dryer thing if I remember) for the plane ride home.
You could also plan some time hanging out in the community hall and play some cards/ board games if you're looking for a way to kill some time.
I hope you have a great trip!

 

[nkereina]

Another option would be to book a spa treatment on your last day. You have use of the spa's showers, lockers, and amenities before and after your service and I would bet it's much less crowded than the lounge at times.

 

[SacFamily]

We recently used the lounge with a 5:30 flight time on a Tuesday. Put our bags in our rental car (could also use bell services), kept 1 small bag containing change of clothes with us. Spent day at pool. No issues with crowds/waiting for lockers, showers, etc. Plenty of towels and shampoo/conditioner/body wash in showers. There are also a couple hair dryers. It worked well for us.

When we checked out at 11am, we requested that our room keys continue to be available for charging for the balance of the day. That was no problem (maybe a standard thing?) and made it easier to pay around the resort. They just made another charge to our credit card on file at the end of the day.

I like the spa idea above!

 

[SuzanneB74]

We recently used the lounge with a 5:30 flight time on a Tuesday. Put our bags in our rental car (could also use bell services), kept 1 small bag containing change of clothes with us. Spent day at pool. No issues with crowds/waiting for lockers, showers, etc. Plenty of towels and shampoo/conditioner/body wash in showers. There are also a couple hair dryers. It worked well for us.

When we checked out at 11am, we requested that our room keys continue to be available for charging for the balance of the day. That was no problem (maybe a standard thing?) and made it easier to pay around the resort. They just made another charge to our credit card on file at the end of the day.

I like the spa idea above!

So glad to hear this! Our departure flight is at 5:00 pm on Tuesday when we are there in June. Hopefully we will have the same experience as you!

 

[MeeskaMooska13]

Is this available to cash reservations or just on the DVC side?

 

[helenk]

Another option would be to book a spa treatment on your last day. You have use of the spa's showers, lockers, and amenities before and after your service and I would bet it's much less crowded than the lounge at times.

Its funny that you say this. My daughter and I went to the Spa the Saturday before we left. On Sunday we both said we should have saved our Spa day for our last day. My next trip that is what I am going to do if I have a later flight.

 

[twodogs]

I think the lockers in lounge can only be used for an hour, so don't plan on stashing your things there all day on departure day. Plus the key card they give you for the lounge can only be used for one entry into the lounge, so no in and out usage. We had a red eye departure, and used the pools then the lounge. It was pretty crowded and chaotic but worked ok. I left all luggage with Bell services, and packed a separate bag of clothes we wanted to change into for flight home. Just asked bell services for that bag only when we entered lounge. When all done in lounge, asked bell services for our luggage. The lounge is very tiny and there were many people with all of their luggage and bags of groceries, waiting to check into rooms or waiting for rooms to be ready. I didn't want all my luggage in their while trying to all get showered. It's not a place I'd want to hang out for long. Crowded!

 

[oakleycat]

Our last day was a Saturday (4/29) and it was the only day the resort was really busy while we were there. Our flight was at 9:30 p.m. and our shuttle at 6:05, so we were in the lounge around 5 and it was empty. I think there was one other family there. We had a great experience and were really happy we booked the late flight and got the extra day at the resort.